Grid ceiling tool

ABSTRACT

A tool for bending false ceiling hanger wires which determines the appropriate bend location, and for bending hanger wires to attach to the ceiling frame or supporting anchors or to embed in concrete, and for tying hanger wires to the ceiling frame or supporting anchors or to embed in concrete, and for cutting ceiling components and wires. The tool includes a pair of coordinating handles connected at a handle pivot which includes a gripping surface. A pair of cutting blades are connected to the distal end of the handles. The blades are mutually connected at the blade pivot, which includes a bending surface. Converging movement of the handles causes converging movement of the bending surface and gripping surface and converging movement of the blades. The gripping surface clamps the wire onto the bending surface while the wire is bent or tied. The blades cut ceiling components and hanger wires.

This invention relates to a novel wire bending ceiling tool adapted to determine appropriate bend location on a suspended false ceiling hanger wire relative to desired ceiling height; and adapted to grip and bend a hanger wire to attach to the false ceiling frame or to an anchor or embed in concrete; and adapted to grip and tie the wire to the false ceiling frame; and adapted to grip and bend a wire to attach to an anchor or embed in concrete; and adapted to grip and tie a wire attached to an anchor or in preparation to embed in concrete, and adapted to cut false ceiling components such as hanger wires, main runners, cross runners and wall angles; and adapted to be lightweight making it easily carried and used with one hand.

In building construction and renovation, elongated vertical wires with free ends are commonly used as hangers to support a frame for the installation of false ceilings. Such false ceilings are often suspended below the successive floor structures in modern multiple story commercial buildings to cover exposed utility and heating conduits. False ceilings may also be relied upon to lower high ceilings for aesthetic purposes or to meet building fire code in older buildings.

The frame used for hanging false ceilings normally consists of a series of thin, elongated main runners and cross runners forming a grid pattern which are commonly “T” shaped and commonly called “T-bar”. T-bar shaped main runners are installed as an inverted “T” hanging by the vertical post with the horizontal flanges at the bottom. Ceiling tile is usually carried by the horizontal flanges or a collateral finish such as gypsum is secured to the horizontal flanges. The upper end of the hanger wire ties to an anchor attached to the “true” ceiling or is embedded in concrete and the lower end ties securely through a hole in the main runner to suspend the main runner below the “true” ceiling. For installation that meets or exceeds current building codes, the wire must be bent in a precisely located “V” shaped bend, forming a holder to subsequently slide through a hole in the main runner which is positioned at the appropriate height. The free end of the wire is then twisted around the suspended wire attached to the main runner forming a tie to secure the main runner.

There have long been problems in suspending the main runners as it is most difficult for the workman to bend the wire at the correct height and in the correct formation so that the particular suspended wire may properly support its proportionate share of the load at a level attitude, as the “true” ceiling may be sloping or otherwise have an uneven lower surface.

The V-shaped bend of the wire generally has been heretofore made by a craftsman using an ordinary pair of linesman's pliers. This method is unsatisfactory because not only is it physically difficult due to the wire being quite sturdy, it also does not create a sharp corner to properly carry the main runner, is not sufficiently tight to properly carry the load, is not at the appropriate location of the wire, and often requires a number of rebends in the same wire as the craftsman attempts to adjust the bend precisely to the correct spot and correct formation leading to nicks, cracks and weakness in the wire. If the wire is excessively weakened by rebending, the wire may break. If the wire is not bent at the correct spot and correct formation, the ceiling may not be flat or the wires may not carry equal load, which may lead to an uneven appearance or catastrophic failure of the ceiling.

Various devices are known for cutting false ceiling components or bending tubing strap and wires as exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,189,219, 5,699,617, 4,091,845, 3,662,580, 3,604,244 and 1,316,257; however, none of these appear suitable to correctly perform the above desired functions.

The present invention has for its objects: to provide a tool to determine the appropriate bend locations on a suspended false ceiling wire relative to desired ceiling height, then grip and bend the free end of the wire; to provide a tool to grip and tie the free end of the wire around the suspended wire; to provide a tool including a laser target to easily determine the appropriate bend height; to provide a tool including a height mark to easily determine the appropriate bend height; to provide a tool to bend a hook in a hanger wire to attach to a main runner; to provide a tool to bend a hook in a hanger wire to attach to an anchor in the bottom of the “true” ceiling; to provide a tool to bend a hook in a hanger wire to embed in concrete; to provide a tool to quickly and easily cut a hanger wire and remove the resulting excess wire; to provide a tool to apply weight to the wire to straighten the wire; to provide a tool that precisely bends and tightly ties the wire; to provide a tool that enables a suspended wire to be quickly and easily gripped preparatory to bending and easily released after it is bent; to provide a tool able to accommodate various wire diameters in the bending and gripping operation; to provide a tool with a bending surface and a gripping surface which move in response to movement of a pair of handles to grip a wire to be formed; to provide a tool capable of being held by a workman in one hand; to provide a tool capable of bending the wire into the proper “V” shape to hold the main runner; to provide a tool to quickly and easily bend and tie the wire in the precise bend and tie at the appropriate location that is sufficiently tight; to provide a tool in which the bending operation may be performed by a workman using one hand while griping the handles; and to provide a lightweight tool capable of being easily carried and used with one hand, which is comfortable to handle and use, which is safe to operate, which is amenable to automation and economical to manufacture, sturdy in use, durable in construction, positive in operation and particularly well adapted for its proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, a certain form of this invention.

DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of the specification and include an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features of the Ceiling Tool.

FIG. 1 is a broken perspective view from above a false ceiling showing elongated metal hanger wires supporting a false ceiling frame;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a Ceiling Tool while open;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a Ceiling Tool while closed;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a Ceiling Tool with a hanger wire inserted between the gripping surface and the bending surface in preparation of gripping the wire;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a Ceiling Tool with a hanger gripped between the gripping surface and the bending surface in preparation of bending the wire;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a Ceiling Tool gripping a hanger wire and bending the hanger wire in preparation of inserting the wire into a hole in a main runner;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a Ceiling Tool gripping a wire end and tying the wire end around a suspended hanger wire inserted into a main runner;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a suspended hanger wire tied to a main runner;

As indicated herein Ceiling Tools of the type disclosed herein are useful in bending metal wires to hang false ceilings. Wires of this type are illustrated in FIG. 1 in association with the “true” ceiling 1 and suspended frame of main runners 3 and cross runners 4 in which the “true” ceiling 1 may be of poured concrete, wood or metal with a plurality of hanger wires 2 fastened thereto. The wires 2 are secured to the bottom of the floor in any suitable manner, as by being tied to an anchor attached to the “true” ceiling or being embedded in concrete.

It is to be noted that the practice of this invention is not limited to the use of round wire but includes oval and flattened wire as well as certain straps, all of which will be referred to generically herein as “wire”. The round wire size is commonly #12 gauge, but other sizes may be selected as conditions dictate.

The wires 2 project downwardly for a distance below the “true” ceiling 1 and have free ends 2 a to be bent and tied at a precise point to levelly support the false ceiling frame including, in this example, a plurality of “T” shaped main runners 3 and cross runners 4, although it is to be understood that other structural shapes such as angles, C-channels and I-beams and the like may be used as desired. The main runners 3 and cross runners 4 may vary in size according to the load to be supported; the common type utilized in false ceiling construction having an inverted “T” shape with a 1¾ inch to 2 inch vertically directed web and a ¾ inch to 1¼ inch horizontal flange. The free ends 2 a are bent in a “V” shape to subsequently position into holes in the main runner 3 then twisted around the suspended hanger wire 2 attached to the main runner 3 as described herein. The upper end of the wire 2 is suitably anchored to the “true” ceiling 1, such as tied to anchor attached to the bottom of the “true” ceiling 2 b, or embedded in concrete 2 c. Ceiling tile 6 a is carried by the main runners 3 and cross runners 4 or collateral finish such as gypsum 6 b is secured to the main runners 3 and cross runners 4. Wall angle 5 finishes the ceiling to a wall.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 through FIG. 7, the Ceiling Tool is generally designated 7 and is constructed of steel or other materials suitable for metal cutting and bending purposes.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the Ceiling Tool includes a pair of coordinating handles 12 mutually connected at a handle pivot 11 with gripping surface 9 and a pair of cutting blades 15 connected to the handles. The blades 15 each having a proximal end 14 attached to a distal portion of one of the handles 13, and the blades 15 are mutually connected at a blade pivot 10 with a bending surface 8, so that the bending surface 8 and gripping surface 9 move in response to movement of the handles 12, and converging movement of the handles 12 causes converging movement of the bending surface 8 and gripping surface 9, and the blades 15 move in response to movement of the handles 12, and converging movement of the handles 12 causes converging movement of the blades 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, moving the handles 12 apart moves gripping surface 9 away from bending surface 8 and moves the blades 15 apart.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, squeezing the handles 12 together moves gripping surface 9 towards bending surface 8 and moves the blades 15 together.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, moving the handles 12 apart moves gripping surface 9 away from bending surface 8 then inserting the wire 2, positions the wire 2 to be gripped.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, lining up the height mark 16 to the desired ceiling height to determine the appropriate bend location on the wire, then squeezing the handles 12 together moves gripping surface 9 towards bending surface 8 gripping the wire between the gripping surface 9 and the bending surface 8 gripping wire 2 in preparation of bending the wire 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, gripping the handles 12 together moves gripping surface 9 towards bending surface 8 gripping the wire end 2 between the gripping surface 9 and the bending surface 8 then pulling the handles 12 down bends wire 2 on bending surface 8 in preparation to insert the suspended hanger wire 2 into a main runner.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, gripping the handles 12 together moves gripping surface 9 towards bending surface 8 gripping the wire end 2 between the gripping surface 9 and the bending surface 8 then moving the handles 12 relative to the wire 2 bends wire 2 in preparation to tie to an anchor or embed in concrete.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, squeezing the handles 12 together moves gripping surface 9 towards bending surface 8 gripping the wire end 2 a between the gripping surface 9 and the bending surface 8 then twisting the Ceiling Tool 7 around the suspended wire 2 attached to the main runner 3 wraps wire end 2 a tightly around the suspended wire 2 securing the main runner 3.

FIG. 8 shows a suspended hanger wire 2 tied securely to a main runner 3.

The foregoing has described various principles, features, embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention. However, the invention should not be construed as limited to the described principles, features, embodiments and modes of operation, rather, the description is illustrative, and it should be appreciated that variations, modifications and equivalents may be made by others without departing from the intended scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

OBJECTS REFERENCED BY NUMBER

The following is a list of Objects referenced by number herein:

-   OBJECT # 1: “True” Ceiling; -   OBJECT # 2: Hanger Wire -   OBJECT # 2 a: Free End of Wire; -   OBJECT # 2 b: Wire Attached to an Anchor; -   OBJECT # 2 c: Wire Embedded in Concrete; -   OBJECT # 3: Main Runner; -   OBJECT # 4: Cross Runner; -   OBJECT # 5: Wall Angle; -   OBJECT # 6 a: Acoustic Tile; -   OBJECT # 6 b: Collateral Finish; -   OBJECT # 7: Ceiling Tool; -   OBJECT # 8: Bending surface; -   OBJECT # 9: Gripping surface; -   OBJECT # 10: Blade Pivot; -   OBJECT # 11: Handle Pivot; -   OBJECT # 12: Handles; -   OBJECT # 13: Blade Attachment; -   OBJECT # 14: Proximal End of Blade; -   OBJECT # 15: Blades; -   OBJECT # 16: Height Mark; 

1. A wire bending device comprising a pair of coordinating handles mutually connected at a handle pivot with gripping surface and a pair of cutting blades connected to the handles. The blades each having a proximal end attached to a distal portion of one of the handles, and the blades are mutually connected at a blade pivot with bending surface, so that converging movement of the handles causes converging movement of the gripping surface and bending surface, and the bending surface and gripping surface move in response to movement of the handles to grip a wire to be formed;
 2. A wire bending device comprising a pair of coordinating handles operably connected to a bending surface and a gripping surface, so that converging movement of the handles causes converging movement of the gripping surface and bending surface, and the bending surface and gripping surface move in response to movement of the handles to grip a wire to be formed;
 3. A wire bending device comprising a pair of coordinating handles operably connected to a bending surface and a gripping surface, so that converging movement of the handles causes converging movement of the gripping surface and bending surface, and the bending surface and gripping surface move in response to movement of the handles to grip a wire to be formed, then pulling the handles down relative to the suspended wire bends the wire in preparation to attach to the false ceiling frame.
 4. A wire bending device comprising a pair of coordinating handles operably connected to a bending surface and a gripping surface, so that converging movement of the handles causes converging movement of the gripping surface and bending surface, and the bending surface and gripping surface move in response to movement of the handles to grip a wire to be formed, then moving the handles relative to the wire bends the wire in preparation to attach to an anchor or embed in concrete.
 5. A wire bending device including a height mark to determine proper bend location on a wire in relation to desired ceiling height.
 6. A wire bending device including a height mark that can be used as a laser target to determine proper bend location on a wire in relation to the desired ceiling height.
 7. A wire bending device able to determine the appropriate bend locations on a suspended wire in relation to desired ceiling height, then grip and bend the free end of the wire.
 8. A wire bending device comprising a pair of coordinating handles mutually connected at a handle pivot with gripping surface and a pair of cutting blades connected to the handles. The blades each having a proximal end attached to a distal portion of one of the handles, and the blades are mutually connected at a blade pivot with bending surface, so that converging movement of the handles causes converging movement of the blades to cut the false ceiling components such as the hanger wire, main runners, cross runners and wall angle.
 9. A wire bending device that is marked to determine the appropriate bend location on a suspended false ceiling hanger wire relative to desired ceiling height, and able to grip and bend the free end of the wire to attach to the false ceiling frame, and able to grip and tie the free end of the wire around the suspended hanger wire attached to the false ceiling frame, and able to cut false ceiling components such as hanger wires, main runners, cross runners and wall angles. 